Imporatant Questions in a Time of Crisis

Important Questions in a Time of Crisis

One of the phrases that you may have heard a few times recently is “uncharted territory.” I have heard people talk about uncharted territory in a variety of contexts over the past weeks as they struggle with the uncertainty of our current situation. It seems to capture what has been perhaps the most difficult aspect of the pandemic – all the unknowns. The impact of the virus seems to change by the day, both in terms of where and how many people are becoming infected and dying and in terms of response: new restrictions, new recommendations, new rules, and new ideas for treatment and prevention. How long will this continue? What additional measures should be taken? What will the final impact be? There always seem to be many more questions than answers.

As we struggle with these unknowns, it is good for us to dig a level deeper and ask some questions about faith. This is a time for us to step back and think about what the theme of these messages means: faith in the face of pandemic. I would like to pose a set of three important spiritual questions for each of us to consider, in light of the scriptures that we will look at today.

First of all, what are we really trusting in? Another way of putting this would be to ask, where is our faith? When our world is shaken, what are we left with? Insecurity is a major source of fear for everyone. What can I depend on? What can I be sure will not be taken away from me? What will happen to that vulnerable loved one if they catch the virus? What will happen to the economy with so many people losing their jobs? As the stock market drops, doesn’t the future seem a bit darker?

Ultimately this makes us examine the foundation of our own sense of security. What does it mean for us as believers to have faith, to trust God in the present circumstances? Last Sunday Jonathan read Mark’s account of Jesus calming the storm. I would like to read it again from Luke 8, because it is so appropriate for the storm that we find ourselves in.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” – Luke 8:22-25

So Jesus asks this very question: Where is your faith? In Mark’s account, the question is a little different: Do you still have no faith? The question here, “Where is your faith?” could be interpreted the same way, but at face value it implies that the disciples did have faith, but it was in the wrong thing. Perhaps it was in their own ability as boatmen. Now they were faced with a storm beyond what they could handle.

Where is your faith? Are you trusting in your ability to protect and provide for your family? Are we trusting in your toilet paper reserves or bank balance? Are you trusting in your youth or fitness to protect you from infection? We are indeed so fortunate compared to so many in the world. I think of the millions of day laborers in India who are facing starvation because they can’t work. Many Americans will indeed die of COVID-19, but many more will be saved by excellent medical care. I think of people in Afghanistan who will die with none and never even become part of the statistics.

We are privileged people. The Apostle Paul was a privileged person, too. In Philippians 3 he lists some of the things that he could have trusted in: of the people of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law a Pharisee. But then he says,

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. – Philippians 3:7-11

Paul was willing to consider everything a loss for the sake of knowing Christ. He knew this would involve suffering and eventually death, but he kept this in perspective, putting his hope in the resurrection. Everything lost he considered garbage in comparison to knowing Christ and receiving his gift of righteousness. He had been called to proclaim the gospel at all costs. In 2 Timothy 1 he says,

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. – 2 Timothy 1:11-12

Where was Paul’s faith? He was convinced that God was able to guard whatever he had entrusted into God’s divine care. But he knew that that did not necessarily include preserving things related to his earthly existence. Those could be lost in a moment. But his destiny and calling were secure. He was single-mindedly devoted to what God had called him to do.

So that brings us to the second question: What is really important? When our lives are turned topsy-turvy, this is a great time to ask this. Is toilet paper a necessity of life? Some people seem to be going to great lengths to procure it. How important is our freedom to do what we want? More and more activities are being restricted. We were really disappointed on Friday to hear of Clemson Forest being closed, as that has been a precious place for us to escape and enjoy spring and forget about the problems of the world for a little while.

But what is really important? Let’s consider priorities. How are we using this time to draw nearer to God? How are we investing in relationships? Where are we looking for places to help others, who might be much worse off than we are? What are the good things that God wants to accomplish in and through us during this time?

King David knew what it meant to draw near to God. In Psalm 27, he writes

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock. – Psalm 27:4-5

One thing. The one thing that David sought was to live in the presence of the Lord. David loved God so much that he could not imagine anything better than to be with him. Are we gazing on the beauty of the Lord during these days? Or are we gazing at the internet to track the rising death toll or to distract ourselves with trivial entertainment? I am as guilty as anyone on this! But what drags us down and what lifts us up? Let’s not miss verse 5 here. What happens when we are living in the Lord’s presence? When trouble does come, as it surely will, that’s where we find safety: in his dwelling. He hides us in the shelter of his tent. Does that mean that nothing bad will ever affect us? No, but when the world around us is shaking, he sets our feet upon a rock. It’s a choice we make to be there with him from the start.

One thing. I think of that song that we sing:

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
This one thing remains

Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me

What is important? Nothing is more important than God’s love, his unfailing love. It is what brings us comfort and peace and hope in this dark time. It’s what keeps us going. We live in response to his love guiding our priorities. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love our neighbor. It means living a life of worship and service. One way that we can serve each other at this time is to not bring unnecessary risk to each other. That means submitting to social distancing and good hygiene rules, even if we don’t feel that much at risk ourselves. We love our neighbor by doing what is good for them rather than putting our own needs and desires first.

What is really important? What matters for eternity? A crisis like COVID gives us an excellent opportunity to slow down and ask these questions. If you knew that you had only a month left to live would you do anything different from what you are now? Do you have any unfinished business with God or someone else? Any relationships that need to be reconciled or celebrated? It’s unfortunate that things are often said at funerals that should have been said while the person was still alive. Tell people that you love them. Offer words of hope and faith and encouragement. Point people to Jesus as the only source of real peace – with God and with each other.

We need to let go of the fear and anxiety that many of us are holding onto. It is so easy to panic, along with the rest of the world. But we can show what’s really important, the difference that God makes in our lives. We can be courageous despite our fears. This is the difference between despair and desperation. Despair means giving up hope. Desperation means hanging on to what really matters, calling out to God to save us, realizing that he is our only hope. Let’s be desperately seeking God during this time.

What are we really trusting in? What is really important? And my third question is about introspection and self-awareness: What is inside us? What are we really like and what does God want to work on in us at this time? Crises tend to bring out the best and the worst in people. Some people go into a selfish mode of grabbing all that they can for themselves. Others however put themselves at risk to rescue others or sacrifice so that others can have more.

One effect of the pandemic has been to generally put people together in small groups in an intense way for a long period. I wonder how some families are avoiding killing each other. Even in our household it has been an adjustment to have our kids home again for an indefinite period and the rest of us around the house much more than we normally are. Routines are upset, new responsibilities need to be coordinated, space needs to be shared. Adjustments need to be made for doing things online rather than face to face. Sometimes stress levels rise. Are you familiar with the song “Bind Us Together, Lord”? At times like this it seems more like “Grind Us Together, Lord.” We need to allow God to use the tensions and conflicts to demonstrate his mercy and grace that we can share with each other. This is how some of our rough edges can be smoothed off. We can still lose it with each other at times, but then when we offer and receive forgiveness we can have a fresh start and an even deeper relationship than before.

Living in close proximity to a few people for a long period shows what is really in our hearts. Pretense is very difficult to sustain. I am reminded of a quote from Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary who went to India more than 100 years ago: “A cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water however suddenly jolted.” We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than our own selfish desires. Then God’s sweetness will spill out of us when we are jolted – or attacked or inconvenienced – rather than an angry or scornful word. I am reminded of this passage in Galatians 5:

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:13-16

How do we indulge the flesh in the way we relate to other people? You can probably think of a whole host of ways: criticizing and putting others down, manipulating them to get what we want, making unjust demands of them, holding grudges and acting passive aggressively, taking them for granted. Biting and devouring with our words will lead to destroying each other, Paul says. What is the alternative given here? Serving one another humbly in love. Love always involves taking action. It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling. But in ourselves we will never be able to love as we ought. We need to ask for and rely on the help of the Holy Spirit. Walking by the Spirit will keep us from gratifying the desires of our sinful nature.

So let’s take time during this pandemic to consider what is inside us, as it is revealed by the stress and upset of our circumstances, whatever they end up being. Even if we don’t die from the coronavirus we can make the most of the opportunity to die to ourselves and live for God. Even as we sang earlier, he bids us come and die that we may truly live. In Mark 8 Jesus points out what the way of the cross means:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. – Mark 8:34-35

Is it bad to want to save ourselves from the coronavirus? No, but if that becomes our overriding focus then we will miss out on the abundant life that Jesus wants to give us as we dedicate ourselves to him. Losing our lives for his sake secures our eternal life. Losing our lives could be a literal, physical death because of following his calling, or for most of us a submission to his will rather than our own. It means crucifying our sinful nature day by day, recognizing what Jesus bore for us on the cross. This is what we do in communion, receiving his forgiveness and grace anew.

Amy Carmichael described her life as “a chance to die.” She was very conscious of her own weakness and stubborn sinfulness. She knew what it meant to take up her cross to follow Jesus. But a message of self-denial has never been very popular or easy. A real risk with introspection is either self-effort or despair. We see our failings and either pull up our socks and try harder or we just give up, thinking that we will never be able to change. But we need to remember that taking up one’s cross is not an end in itself. We take it up in order to follow Jesus. And that is what gives us hope and the power to change – the power of the Holy Spirit working in us as we draw near to follow his leading. You are probably familiar with these verses from the beginning and middle of Philippians 2:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. – Philippians 2:12-13

A key part of working out our salvation is to value others above ourselves, considering their interests above our own. Fortunately this is something that God helps us with, as he works in us to will and act in fulfilling his good purpose. Sometimes we need to ask him to even give us the desire to follow his ways rather than our own.

Psalm 139 is a wonderful passage to meditate on in this regard, reminding us of who we are before God. It starts out

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me. – Psalm 139:1-5

God knows everything about each of us, both good and bad, past and present and future, and still he loves us more than we can imagine. He hems us in, as it says here, so that nothing can touch us, unless he allows it. He lays his hand on us for blessing and guidance – and discipline. This is what gives us hope in the midst of a crisis when we look inside ourselves and find fear and doubt and confusion. He is the one who sees and knows and sovereignly controls everything. He is the only one worthy of our complete trust, the Rock on which we stand when all other ground is sinking sand.

So here are our three questions again. Number one, what are we really trusting in? Where is our security? It needs to be focused on God and his salvation, not on something we could so easily lose in the midst of this crisis. Number two, what is really important? What should we prioritize during this time? Worship, fellowship, service – loving God and truly loving other people. Thirdly, what is inside us? What does it mean for you, what does it mean for me, to die to ourselves and live to God? The answer will be different for each of us. The changes and commitments that God desires will be revealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

I would like to leave you with one final thought to encourage you in this process. It originated with a man who became the fourth president of Wheaton College, Raymond Edman. He lived his life with a continual sense of God’s presence, most powerfully experienced when he was dying of typhus as a missionary in Ecuador. His feet were already cold, so the doctor had given up on his recovery. His coffin was ready. His new wife had dyed her wedding dress black to wear for his funeral that afternoon. Suddenly he felt a presence in the room where he lay barely conscious. He knew it was the love of God surrounding him. It was the beginning of a truly miraculous recovery. Sometime later he found out that on that very day, July 4^th, 1925, his mentor, nicknamed Uncle Joe, had interrupted the meeting of the Bible conference he was attending in Massachusetts to tell the 200 people present that they needed to urgently pray for Edman in Ecuador. They prayed for several hours until they sensed that their prayers had been answered.

Edman often talked about what it was like to live in the presence of God. He made a great impression on a young student at Wheaton named Billy Graham. One day in 1967, Edman was giving a chapel message at the college entitled, “In the Presence of the King.” He concluded by saying, “In [waiting], you will prepare your own hearts to hear the Lord, to meet with the King. Your heart will learn to cultivate what the Scripture says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Over these years I have learned the immense value of that deep, inner silence as David, the king, sat in God’s presence to hear from him.” Those were Edman’s last words. He turned from the podium, collapsed on the stage from a heart attack, and entered the presence of the King of Kings forever.

Edman knew what was important. He knew where his security lay. He trusted God through many crises in his life. What would his advice be to us today, as we face a pandemic that is likely to get much worse before it gets better? “Do not doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light.” Trials will come, the darkness may seem very deep, but God never changes, and his promises are always true.